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Trust VS Mistrust with holding a baby
Years ago I tried to hold my cousins new baby when we visited, she wouldn't even let me come near her without crying or making an upset face. This is categorized under the first stage in Erikson's model. Her trust in her mother was nothing I could resemble in order to let me pick her up. I was trying to make funny faces and let her approach me, but nothing seemed to work. I found this funny hat that was in the basement that finally made her laugh when I put it on, and cried when I took it off. -
Autonomy VS Doubt
We went back to visit my cousin about a year and a half later. her daughter now over 2, exhibited the second stage when my cousin tried to take her to pee. When she looked for her out in the living room, she found that her daughter was already in the bathroom waiting for her. It wasn't like she gained potty training. But she totally accomplished going into the bathroom alone. Where she associates going to the toilet. -
Initiative VS Guilt
The third stage in Erikson's timeline is how a child shows leadership and independence, or lacks self esteem and feels guilt for something that they did "wrong". My little cousin a few years ago showed initiative by helping my mother in the kitchen passing her a spoon for the stove pot. She then asked about how to hold a knife as she picked it up by the blade. So my mom showed her and said "never hold it that way" which made her feel guilt. Although it was harmless and not aggressive in any way.